Watch: Mountain Lion Released Into Wild After Captured In Redwood City Neighborhood: Police

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A young mountain lion spotted resting on a backyard fence in Redwood City was safely returned to the wild this week with help from state wildlife officials and local police.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said it received a CalTIP report Monday morning about a mountain lion perched on a resident's fence under the shade of a tree.

CDFW wildlife officers and biologists responded and tranquilized the animal so it could be safely evaluated.

Officials determined the mountain lion was a healthy female estimated to be between 1 and 2 years old.

The lion was fitted with a GPS tracking collar as part of a UC Santa Cruz research project before being transported to suitable habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains and released, CDFW said.

Mountain lions are generally wary of people and tend to avoid populated areas, according to CDFW. While they occasionally enter neighborhoods in search of food or other resources, most eventually return to open space on their own.

In this case, officials said busy roads and freeways may have made it difficult for the animal to safely return to its natural habitat.

The Redwood City Police Department assisted California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel after the mountain lion was spotted near the 1800 block of Madison Avenue.

Police initially advised residents to keep pets indoors and avoid the area as a precaution. Authorities later lifted the alert.

CDFW thanked researchers with the UC Santa Cruz Puma Project for assisting with the collaring effort and Redwood City police officers for helping secure the scene.

The agency said the mountain lion showed no signs of aggression and was not linked to any reports of conflict with people or pets.

Wildlife-related emergencies can be reported to CDFW through CalTIP at 1-888-334-2258 or through the Tip411 app.